Vent for core barrels



Patented Aug. 3th, 1932 I l 2 vUNITED STATES` rPflll-IN'I' OFFICE I LOUIS H. WELLENSVIEK, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR T HUGHES TOOL COMPANY\ OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS n VENT ron conn BARRELS Application med July 2o,l 1931. seriai No. 551,908.

My invention relates to vents for the upper the lower extremity is threaded to receive the ends of core barrels employed with core cap 8 which forms a guard and valve housdrills in well drilling. ing.` It has a. central opening 9 therein,

It is now common to employ a core barrel 'which connects with lateral branches 10, and

to receive the sample cut by a core drill an axial channel 11. The central passage 9 o5 and to provide a valve or other vent at the is close-d by the upwardly opening ball valve upper end of the barrel which will allow 12. I y the escape of fluid trapped in the barrel The tube -fits slidably within the head 5. above the core and yet prevent the flushing There is a central chamber 13 in the head fluid from fiowing through the barrel from and a stuffing box is provided on opposite o0 above and washing away the core. It has ends of this chamber. Packing rings 14 bebeen found, however, that when high pump low are supported upon a gland 15. The pressure is used, the pressure of the flushing rings 16 above the chamber bear against the liquid upon the valve tends to hold it closed upper end of the recess into which .they are so that no vent is allowed outwardly from fitted. A spring 17 between the two stufling 05 the upper end of the barrel. The flushing boxes holds the packing resiliently in posifluid holds the valve so tightly seated that tion. The recess 13 is filled with grease. no outlet for the trapped fluid. in the barrel Above the head 5 the -tuhe is connected is possible. with an upwardly tapered head 18 shaped 2o lt is an object of my invention to provide to engage within a mating recess 19 in the 7U an escape for the. fluid in the core barrel to coupling block 2. The outer surface of the the outside of the drill where the pump preshead is recessed to receive a packing ring 9.0` sure will not oppose the opening ofthe valve. to make a fluid seal in the recess. The tube I also desire to provide a vent from the and head are held resiliently within the seat core barrelto the outside which may be 19 by means of a coiled spring 2l fitted w3 easily adapted for use with core barrels of around the tube, and bearing at its upper slightly varying lengths. i end against a shoulder on the head 18 and at A further object is to provide a stationary its lower end against a ring 2:2. Said ring outlet from the core barrel but arranged to is shaped to engage over a projecting end 2&3

allow the relative rotation of the. core barrel upon the block 5, and cooperates therewith to 80 in the assembly and operation ot the drill. form a bearing race for the ball bearings 2l.

In the drawing herewith is shown a cen- The ring 22 is held in position on said beartral vertical section through the upper end ings also by pins Q5 on the ring engaging of the core barrel showing my invention within an annular grooveQG in the projecthereon. tion 23. 85

The drill stem, not shown. is to be con- The upper coupling 2 has a longitudinal nected with the socket 1 in the upper end liquid passage .28 therethrough for the flush- Vof the special coupling 2 which is engaged ing fluid which may flow around the core at its lower end within the nipple or workbarrel through the space 27 to the drill. ing barrel 3 to which the core hit is attached There is also an outlet passage 29 from the 9U The core barrel extends from the bit upupper end of the conical recess 19 to the outwardly, the upper end being shown zit-4. side of the coupling 2 into the well.

This end is screwed upon a head 5 which is In assembling my device for use, the parts a tubular block, or fitting, of approximateincluding the core barrel 4 with the head 5 ly the same outer diameter as the core barand tube 7 are assembled together as shown 95 rel. The tubular passage 6 through the and inserted into the nipple 3 for engage- ^"-h'l'ock allows,A the insertion therethrough of ment of the tapered head 18 with the couthe vent tube 7. pling Q. A connection is then made with The vent tube is av pipe section, the' lower the drill and in the rotation necessary for end of which projects below `the block 5, and this purpose, the tube 7 may he stationary 10" while the core barrel rotates due to the bearing connection 24.

The arrangement whereby the tube 7 may have a large amount of vertical adjustability makes it possible to use the vent with different lengths'of -core barrel without any further provision for accurate and fluid'tight engagement between the vent and the barrel. Fluid from the core barrel will be balanced due to the opening 29 to the well bore and escape of fluid from the upper end of the barrel will be easily accomplished at all times.

Vhat I claim as new is: f

1. A drill nipple, a coupling block thereon, a core barrel in said nipple, a tube having a longitudinally slidable and Huid tight engagement in the upper end of said core barrel, an upwardly opening valve at the lower end of said tube. and a head on said tube fitted resiliently within a recess in said coupling block, means to hold said head nor'- mally'in said recess, said recess having an opening outside said nipple but closed from the upper end of said block.

2. A drill nipple, a coupling block at the upper end thereof, having an upwardly tapered recess thereon, and an opening laterally therefrom, a core barrel in said nipple, a head on said core barrel, a vent tube slidable axially in said head, a packing member onl said tube, means to force said member into said recess,`said tube being rotatable relative to said head, and a valve at the lower end of said tube.

A drill nipple, a coupling block at the upper end thereof, having an upwardly tapered recess thereon, and an opening laterally therefrom, a core barrel in said nipple, a head on said core barrel, a vent tube slidabe axially in said head, a packing member on said tube, a spring tending to move said tube upwardly in said head, and a valve at the lower end of said tube.

et. A drill nipple, a coupling block at its f' upper end, a core barrel in said nipple, a tube having a fluid tight sliding litin the upper), end of said core barrel,a tapered head on' said tube adapted to lit a smooth, conical recess in said coupling block, there being a vent through said tapered head, and said coupling block tothe outside of said block, said recess being closed from the space above said block, and an upwardly opening valve in said tube.

5. A drill nipple, a' coupling block at its upper end,'a core barrell in said nipple, a tube having a fiuid tight sliding lit in the upper end of said core barrel, a tapered head on said tube adapted to fit a recess in said cou` pling block, there being avent through said tapered head and said vcoupling'block to the block connected with the outside thereof, a spring t move said tube into said recess, and means to preserve a fluid seal about said ltube in said head.

7. A drill stem, a coupling block thereon, a lcore barrel, a head thereon, a t'ubeslidable therein, a recess in the lower side of said block, connected with the outside thereof, a spring to move said tube into said recess, and means to preserve a fluid seal about said tube insaid head, and means to prevent downward flow of liquid in said tube.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, this th day of July A. D. 1931.

LOUIS H. WELLENSIEK.

outside of said block and means to hold said tapered head resiliently in said recess.

6. A drill stem, a coupling block thereon, a core barrel, a head thereon, a tube slidable therein, a recess in the lower side of said 

